2023: The year in review - part 2

The pages of the Independent from July to December, 2023, were much less dramatic than the first half of the year.

Trailblazing CHS female wrestlers, a $35,000 library grant and the courthouse basement project were certainly positive things to happen in the community.

There were a few mishaps in the latter part of the year that created some stir among residents, but all in all, the second half of 2023 produced some good news stories that make us thankful to live here.

Here is what was in the news from July through December:

JULY

• Three friends, fitness enthusiasts and aspiring business partners decided to do something about one vacant storefront on Carrington’s Main Street.

Central City Wellness Center is now in operation at the former Rusty’s Hardware Hank location.

• The Casey’s General Store in Carrington recently contacted law enforcement after noticing that their bottom line wasn’t adding up.

According to court documents, Casey’s employee Marissa Johns and her boyfriend Steven Krueger were caught on video stealing more than $1,500 in gift cards between June 1 and June 27 of this year.

Both Johns and Krueger have since been charged with theft between $1,000 and $10,000, which is a Class C felony.

• Khendra Garcia and Jazmyn Ybarra became trailblazers as part of CHS’ first varsity girls’ wrestling program and raised the bar further with another recent accomplishment.

The two were the first female athletes from the school to enter into the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps Junior/16U Freestyle National Championships at the Fargodome as part of team North Dakota.

• The 10 and Under Carrington Redbirds Baseball Team played in the State Tournament in Steele on July 20-22, 2023. They finished the tournament going 4-2 with both losses coming at the hands of the eventual champions Kidder County and earned the place of runner-up.

AUGUST

• Arrowwood Prairie Co-op replaced underground tanks at the Cenex C-Store and relocated their office to a new space at the former High Plains Equipment dealership building on the southeast corner of the Highways 52-281/200 intersection.

• Carrington Fire and Rescue commemorated 25 years of the present fire department building at an Open House.

• The Carrington Area Healthy Communities Coalition, in partnership with the Carrington Park Board, celebrated the grand opening of the new West Side Park playground equipment with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

• The Foster County Treasurer as well as the auditor will no longer be an elected position.

That was the decision made at the Foster County Commission meeting on August 1, 2023.

A resolution was also approved to combine the treasurer’s office with the auditor’s office.

• The Foster County Commission approved a new campground in Bordulac owned by Dan Beckley.

• Former Foster County Independent owner/publisher Allen Stock was recognized for 35 years with the Kiwanis Organization.

SEPTEMBER

• Cows & Co. Creamery, of rural Carrington, N.D., placed first at the Minnesota State Fair in the artisan cheese competition.

The winning entry was a variety of Extra Old Gouda aged 20 months on their farmstead creamery near Carrington.

•Nearly a year after 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson was tragically killed following a street dance in McHenry, Shannon Brandt was sentenced to five years in prison with credit for 356 days served.

• The Carrington City Library received a $35,000 grant from the state of North Dakota.

• At approximately 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19, a fatal airplane crash occurred south of New Rockford, N.D.

Eddy County Sheriff Paul Lies said the airplane was a crop duster, and that its pilot, 63-year-old Lawrence Polries of Jamestown, N.D. died as a result of injuries suffered in the crash.

OCTOBER

• The Foster County Junior team finished second in the state 4-H range judging contest near Mandan.

• Senior Kacie Rexin places as the state runner-up, shooting rounds of 78 and 78 for a two-day score of 156 in the State Class B meet at Maple River Golf Club in Mapleton.

• Bridger Anderson, son of Glenn and Robin Anderson qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev.

• Jim Indergaard retired from Leevers’ Foods after 44 years of service.

NOVEMBER

• The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced that Cows & Co. Creamery in Carrington, N.D., was awarded $250,000 through the North Dakota Creamery Assistance Grant.

• Shane Stegeman of Carrington was charged with several crimes, including child neglect, after his dog allegedly attacked his 3-year-old stepdaughter.

• CHS captured the Region 5 One-Act Play championship for their dramatic efforts at the regional competition in Jamestown.

• Plans to establish a Career & Technical Education (CTE) Center in Carrington were progressing.

The central third of the state is lacking a physical CTE center. The school districts that could benefit from a CTE in Carrington include New Rockford, Midkota and Pingree-Buchanan.

DECEMBER

• On Wednesday, Nov. 29, the Superintendent of the Midkota Public School District was charged with several felonies for the possession of child pornography.

Ryan Baron, also the school district’s high school principal, was arrested and officially charged the next morning with five counts of “possession on certain materials prohibited,” each a Class C felony.

• For the first time since the 1963 season, there will be three divisions of basketball in North Dakota instead of two, and the Cardinals have moved from among the higher enrollment Class B schools into one of the smaller programs in the new Division A.

• Carrington will lose a veteran educator at the end of the school year. Greg Hoeckle, the elementary physical education and keyboarding teacher who has spent his entire career in Carrington, was approved for early retirement.

• After more than two years of discussions, building assessments and bid lettings, the basement of the Foster County Courthouse will get a major facelift.

The Foster County Board of Commissioners accepted a proposal to renovate the courthouse basement.

Local firm General Roofing and Construction was the sole bidder. After some negotiation, the final accepted bid amount was $2,175,000.

• Carrington native and Grand Forks Police Department Officer Walker Carr, has been recognized by his peers in law enforcement for saving the life of a 5-year-old child.

• Steer wrestler Bridger Anderson of Carrington always dreamed of bringing home a big shiny check from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

And, for 10 days worth of rounds, Anderson cashed in for a big payday of $120,939 at this year’s NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center.

In the year-end standings Anderson finished seventh worldwide with season earnings of $206,540.